Slow closing valve



July 7, 1936. A. w. WHEATON 2,046,759

SLOW CLOS ING VALVE Filed May l5, 1934 43 -g 3.2% z5 .5 y La? fi if 45INVENTOP Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLOW CLOSINGVALVE Application May 15, 1934, Serial No. 725.724

1 Claim.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in valves; and theinvention has rei'erence, more particularly, to a novel construction ofquick opening and slower closing valve for controlling the flow of fluidin pipes and conduits, and wherein the closing movement is selfactuatingand so controlled that sudden back pressure or liquid hammer is avoided,thus relieving the valve and pipe-line structure from injurious jars andstrains as well as conserving the useful life o! the valve iacings andvalve seats.

Self-actuating slow closing valves as heretofore provided have beencumbersome and bulky in design, requiring a comparatively large amountof material for their construction which considerably increased theircost. Among otherv objects of this invention is that of providing a formof construction for such valves, whereby the weight and bulk thereof,and consequently the cost thereof, is considerably reduced, and wherebya very compact and simple structure is attained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve wherein theelements thereof, which serve to control the closing operations, are ofsimple and e'ective design, and so formed as to oier a minimum ofresistance to flow of iluid between the intake and outlet of the valve;wherein the valve per se, during its movements Ais smoothly guidedagainst binding, sticking or vibration; wherein a minimum of resistanceto valve opening movement is attained while nevertheless an eective andprogressively increasing check upon closing movements o1' the valve isassured.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed descriptionof the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the rvalve accordingto this invention, with the valve means in closed condition; Fig. 2 is asimilar view, with the valve means in open conditian subject to slowclosing movement; Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken on line 3 3 inFig. l; Fig. 4 is a transverse section, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2; andFig. 5 is a transverse section, taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character 6 indicates the mainbody or casing oi the valve which is interiorly divided between itsupper and lower ends by a partition 1, thus forming within the casinginterior an intake chamber 8 above said partition and an outlet chamber9 below the latter. Formed in connection with the side of said body orcasing, to communicate with said intake chamber 8, is a laterallyextending intake branch I0, which is internally threaded, as at II, toreceive the end of a iluid supply pipe (not shown). Formed in connectionwith the lower end of said body or casing, to lead outwardly from theoutlet chamber 9, is a branch I2, which, for purposes of illustration,is shown externally threaded, as at I3, to permit of coupling thereto asuitable iinid discharge pipe or conduit (not shown) Said partition 'Iis provided with a valve port opening I4, aligned with thelongitudinalaxis of said body or casing 6. Formed on the upper margin of said valveport opening I4 is a chami'ered valve seat Il,

At its upper end, said body or casing 6 is provided with an internallythreaded opening I6. 'I'he reference character I1 indicates a bonnetclosed at its upper end by an exterior end wall I8 but open at its lowerend. Said lower end of the bonnet is externally threaded and is sized toscrew into the top opening IB of the body or casing 6. Intermediate itsupper and lower ends and integral with its body, the bonnet is providedwith an external lateral flange I9, in the underside of which isprovided a. seat 20 to receive a sealing gasket 2l. When the bonnet I1is assembled with the body or casing'B, the flange I9 abuts the top endoi' said body or casing 6, so as to engage the sealing gasket 2| betweenthese parts, to thus effect a fluid tight joint therebetween.

Disposed within said intake chamber 8 is a valve means comprising ahollow plunger 22 open at its upper end. At its lower end portion saidplunger is provided with an outwardly ilaring wall portion 23 whichjoins the marginal portions of a valve disk 24 at the lower extremity ofsaid plunger. `Extending laterally around the upper end of said plunger22 is a retarding piston 25 which slidlngly moves within the interiorchamber 26 of said bonnet I1. Axially aligned with said plunger 22, anddependent from said valve disk 24 is an externally screw-threaded stud21, which is provided at its i'ree extremity with a bii'urcate member 28to support the journal pin 29 of an anti-friction roller 30. Mounted onthe underside of said valve disk 24, around the stud 21, is a valvefacing washer 3i of suitable material, the same being cooperative withthe valve seat I5. Threaded upon the stud 21 is a valve keeper disk ornut 32, the same being of a diameter to iit the valve port opening I4.Depending from the marginal portions of said keeper disk or nut 32, andspaced circumferentially about the same, are a plurality oi' guidefingers 33 which slidingly engage the periphery of said valve portopening I4. Disposed axially within the hollow plunger 22, with itslower end footed in a seating socket 34 with which the upper or innersurface of said valve disk 24 is provided, is a valve closing spring 35,the upper end of which projects from said hollow plunger 22 so as toengage and thrust from a seating socket 36 provided on the under orinner side of the top wall I8 of said bonnet I1. Formed in connectionwith the side of said plunger 22 above the valve disk 24, and preferablyadjacent thereto, is a check-valve housing 31, the inner end wall ofwhich is provided with discharge port 38, preferably having a charnferedperiphery. Threaded or otherwise ailixed to or within the outer end ofsaid housing 31 is a centrally perforate guide plate 39, through whichslidingly extends the stern 4B of an outwardly opening check valve 4Iwhich normally closes said discharge port 38, being urged into closedrelation thereto by a coiled compression spring 42 which is mounted onand around said valve stem 40 between the valve 4| and said guide plate39. Said guide plate 39 is provided with outlet openings 43communicating with the interior of said intake chamber 8. Formed in theside walls of said bonnet I1, at the interior sides thereof, are one ormore uid by-pass grooves or channels 44 over which the retarding piston25 moves. These grooves or channels 44 are of a special conformationbeing of V-shape tapering downwardly from their relatively broad upperends toward their narrow or restricted lower ends. It also preferablethat these grooves or channels possess a diminishing depth toward theirnarrow or restricted lower ends. Such conformation of said grooves orchannels provides for a diminishing uid by-pass eect around theretarding piston 25, constantly diminishing from maximum by-passingcapacity at their upper ends to minimum by-passing capacity at theirlower ends. The purpose and functioning of these grooves or channels incooperation with movements of the retarding piston in the cylinder 26provided by the interior of the bonnet I1 will subsequently beunderstood from the description of the operation of the valve.

Means are provided for opening the valve by a manual operation. Thismeans comprises a spindle 46 having its inner end journaled in an innerbearing support 41 provided within the outlet chamber 9 on one side wallthereof, while its opposite end is journaled in a bearing support 43provided on the opposite side wall of said outlet chamber 9. Saidbearing support 43 is provided with an outwardly open stuiling-boxchamber 49 through which extends, for exterior projection from the bodyor casing 6, the stem or shank 50 of said spindle 46. Packed around saidstem or shank 50 is a suitable packing material 5I, which is held inplace by a stumng box nut or gland 52 which is engaged around the stemor shank 50 and which screws into the outer open end of said stuffingboxchamber 49. The outer extremity of said stem or shank 50 is providedwith a squared end I3 for application thereto of a suitable wrench (notshown) by means of which said stem 0r shank 50 and consequently saidspindle 46 may be turned. Fixed on said spindle 4B, to turn therewith,is a lift-cam 54 which, on turning of the spindle. may be rotatedagainst the anti-friction roller 3l, to thereby impart an up- 5 wardthrust to the stud 21 for lifting the valve disk 24, plunger 22 andretarding piston 25, to thereby open the valve port I4 to the passage offluid through the valve.

To prevent twisting or turning of the plunger and valve device about itslongitudinal axis, a longitudinal guide rib 55 is provided to projectfrom the inner side of the wall of the body or casing 6 within theintake chamber 8. Connected with and projecting laterally from a side 15of the plunger 22 is a bifurcate guide lug 56, the bifurcate end ofwhich straddles said guide rib 55 so as to slidingly engage therewith.

To open the valve. the lift-cam 54 is rotated upwardly by application ofa suitable tool or wrench to the shank of its spindle. When thus turnedsaid lift-cam 54 engages the anti-friction roller 30 of the stud 21exerting an upward thrust thereupon whereby the plunger 22 is raisedagainst the compression of the spring 35. The rising of the plungerlifts the valve disk and its facing from closed relation to the valveport opening I4, while at the same time the retarding piston 25 riseswithin the interior of the bonnet I1. The fluid within the interior 26of the bonnet and within the interior of the hollow plunger 22 iscompressed by such rising movement of the plunger and retarding piston,and the fluid pressure thus created acts upon the outwardly openingcheck-valve 4| so that the latter is removed from the discharge port 33,thus discharging the fluid from the interior 26 of the bonnet I1, and byreason of this quick and certain release of fluid pressure at this pointthe main valve port I4 is quickly opened to the flow of fluid from theintake chamber 3 therethrough to the outlet chamber 9, or in other wordsthrough the valve.

The valve is self-closingunder the reaction of the spring 35 when thespindle and lift-cam are released from manipulating force. The downwardmovement of the plunger 22 and valve disk 24 is retarded, and a slowclosing movement of the valve is effected by the following occurrences.As the plunger 22 starts downward, the outwardly opening check-valve 42closes the discharge port 33, so that iiuid can not reenter the interiorof the plimger 22 and the interior of the bonnet I1 at that point, thuscompelling the fluid to enter only by by-passing the retarding piston 25through the grooves or channels 44, thus gradually llling the region ofreduced pressure above the retarding piston 25 and within the plunger22, and consequently slowing the movement of the main valve toward itsclosed position relative to the valve port opening I4. Owing to thediminishing cross-sectional. area of the by-pass grooves or channels 44,as the retarding piston 25 travels downwardly over the same, theresistance to reentry of fluid into the area of reduced pressure isgradually increased proportionately as the main valve approaches closedrelation to the valve port opening I4, thus gradually decelerating theclosing movement of the valve, so that eventually the valve disk and itsfacing washer will seat itself upon the valve seat 70 I 5 of the valveport opening without any risk of sudden slam, and consequently withoutthe occurrence of any chattering, sudden back pressure or liquid hammerwithin the valve or the uld conduit line in which the valve is located.

From the above description it will be obvious that a very emcient andyet exceedingly compact valve of comparatively small bulk is providedfor the intended purposes, and for the slow closing mode of operation.Furthermore, owing to the full enclosure of the spring means 35 withinthe hollow plunger, whereby the relatively smooth surfaces of the latterare alone opposed to the flow oi' fluid through the valve when open, theinternal resistance to fluid flow is greatly reduced, and eddying andbreaking of the fluid stream is reduced to a minimum, all of which is noinconsiderable advantage in a valve of the instant type.

I am aware that many changes could be made in the constructions aboveset forth, and many apparently widely diilerent embodiments of thisinvention could be made without departing from the scope thereof; it istherefore intended that all matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limitingl with said casing with its open inner end opposedto and axially aligned with said valve port. an upwardly open hollowplunger of substantially reduced diameter compared with the internaldiameter of said cylinder and having at its upperv end a diametricallyenlarged piston to fit slldingly in said cylinder, said plunger havingat its lower end an outwardly flared and closed portion forming a valvebody supporting abutment, a valve body for cooperation with said valveport supported by said abutment, a vertical guide rib on the inner wallsurface of said casing, said plunger having a bifurcate guide armlaterally projecting therefrom into engagement with said guide rib,spring means-extending through said hollow plunger between its closedlower end and the end wall of said cylinder, means to manually raisesaid plunger and its piston to move said valve body to open relation tosaid valve portion, a quick acting outwardly opening check-valvecommunicating between the plungergand cylinder interior and the interiorof said casing, and iluid-retazrding bypass means in the wall of saidcylinderand adapted to be traversed by said plunger piston.

ABRAM WARREN WHEATON.

